Idiot | Definition of idiot by Merriam-Webster

Full Definition of IDIOT

1

usually offensive : a person affected with extreme mental retardation

2

: a foolish or stupid person

— idiot adjective

See idiot defined for English-language learners

See idiot defined for kids

Origin of IDIOT

Middle English, from Anglo-French ydiote, from Latin idiota ignorant person, from Greek idiōtēs one in a private station, layman, ignorant person, from idios one's own, private; akin to Latin suus one's own — more at suicide

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to IDIOT

Synonyms: airhead, birdbrain, blockhead, bonehead, bubblehead, chowderhead, chucklehead, clodpoll (or clodpole), clot [British], cluck, clunk, cretin, cuddy (or cuddie) [British dialect], deadhead, dim bulb [slang], dimwit, dip, dodo, dolt, donkey, doofus [slang], dope, dork [slang], dullard, dumbbell, dumbhead, dum-dum, dummkopf, dummy, dunce, dunderhead, fathead, gander, golem, goof, goon, half-wit, hammerhead, hardhead, ignoramus, imbecile, jackass, know-nothing, knucklehead, lamebrain, loggerhead [chiefly dialect], loon, lump, lunkhead, meathead, mome [archaic], moron, mug [chiefly British], mutt, natural, nimrod [slang], nincompoop, ninny, ninnyhammer, nit [chiefly British], nitwit, noddy, noodle, numskull (or numbskull), oaf, pinhead, prat [British], ratbag [chiefly Australian], saphead, schlub (also shlub) [slang], schnook [slang], simpleton, stock, stupe, stupid, thickhead, turkey, woodenhead, yahoo, yo-yo, dumb cluck

Antonyms: brain, genius

Definition of IDIOT for Kids

: a silly or foolish person

Medical Definition of IDIOT

usually offensive : a person affected with extreme mental retardation

—idiot adjective, usually offensive

Learn More About IDIOT

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for "idiot"

Spanish Central: Spanish translation of "idiot"

Nglish: Translation of "idiot" for Spanish speakers

Britannica English: Translation of "idiot" for Arabic speakers

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